A family holiday in Algeria with children, from Belgium or France

Going back home with the children is often the big event of the year for families living in Brussels, Liège, Charleroi, Paris, Lyon or Marseille. The grandparents are waiting for the little ones, the cousins get together, and the summer flies by between the family home, the beach and the celebrations. With children, the choice of hotel matters more: the right room, a pool, air conditioning and a restaurant on site make all the difference. Here is our advice for booking a family holiday in Algeria from Belgium or France.

Before you search: the right information

• Each child's age, from the very first search. The rooms offered and the price shown depend on it: a rate for two adults does not apply to a family of five.
• One family room or two rooms? With two or more children, two rooms next to each other are sometimes more comfortable than one large room. Say so in your request.
• A baby? Cots are not available everywhere. Write to us before you book: our team in Algiers calls the hotel and gets back to you.
• Meals. With children, half board makes evenings easier: no need to look for a restaurant after a day at the beach.

Which hotel for children?

• A pool: often the number one criterion. In the capital, see hotels with a pool in Algiers.
• Water slides and water parks: a few resorts in Algeria have them, and they are in high demand in summer. Our guide to hotels with water slides and aquaparks in Algeria presents them.
• The beach: a seafront hotel saves you from taking the car every day. See our page on Algeria's beaches and, near Algiers, our article on Chenoua and the Tipaza beaches.
• Comfort: air conditioning (essential in summer), a lift if you have a pushchair, parking if you drive around with the family.

For anything not listed on the hotel page, ask before you pay rather than on arrival.

Where to go with children

• Algiers: the city is easy to explore as a family, as long as you keep sightseeing for the morning or late afternoon in summer. Our ideas are in what to see in Algiers, and the hotels on the Algiers page.
• Oran: the seafront for evening walks, the Aïn El Turck corniche for the beaches. See hotels in Oran.
• Béjaïa: sea and mountains, as far as Tichy. See hotels in Béjaïa.

Many families keep the grandparents' house as their base and book only a few hotel nights: arrival, a few days by the sea, the days of a celebration. Our article on where to stay in Algeria in summer explains how.

Summer: book early

July and August concentrate demand, especially on the coast, and family rooms go first. School calendars are not the same in Belgium and France: check your school's dates, then book as soon as they are known. Choose a room with free cancellation until everything is confirmed. In midsummer it is hot: plan outings early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If you can travel at another time of year, our guide on the best time to visit Algeria compares the seasons.

Children's documents: check before you go

The documents required depend on each person's passport: Algerian, Belgian, French, or dual nationality. Our Algeria visa page sums up the current rules, including for children. If a child is travelling with only one parent, or without their parents, find out in advance which documents your country of residence and Algeria require. In every case these rules can change: check the latest requirements with the consulate or on the official website before you leave.

At the hotel, an Algerian or dual-national couple may be asked for their family record book (livret de famille): bring it. The details are in our article do you need a family record book at a hotel in Algeria?

Paying from Belgium or France

Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you once payment is made. Show the voucher at check-in, on your phone or printed.

A relative in Algeria can also pay for the booking in dinars, without a bank card: by BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our agency in Telemly, Algiers Centre. It is handy when the grandparents want to treat the family to a few nights by the sea.

Frequently asked questions

Do children pay at the hotel? It depends on the hotel and on the children's ages. Enter their ages when you search: the price shown takes them into account.

Can we get a cot? Not everywhere. Write to us before booking: we check with the hotel. NIA, our assistant, also answers on the website and on WhatsApp.

I am booking for my parents and my children together. How do I do it? Read our article on booking a hotel for your parents or family: it explains who should be named as traveller and how to pass on the voucher.

Find a hotel for the family

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.